Marching to the beat of a different drum
August is that strange time of year when people are coming and going, leaving and arriving and starting to make plans for September to December. That's also true for us at Saint Wilfrid Church.
The month of August can feel like a hinterland - a moment of flux - a time of waiting - of the pause button being pressed. This can be a relief to some and a point of frustration for others.
One of the oldest concepts of God is 'Sabbath'. A day of rest. The Psalmist emphasises the need to pause and think, by using the word 'Selah'. We often see modelled in Jesus times of retreat and withdrawal.
In each of these we can discover the opportunity for 'active waiting' and prayer. Active waiting is patient resting whilst the seed is growing. Active waiting invites us to be 'present in the moment' with the conviction that something else is about to happen. The prophet Isaiah describes this process well in chapter 40 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Waiting can also enable our prayer life to take on a new posture. In a busy world it can be hard to be still and wait and contemplate, yet this is exactly what many of our forefathers of the faith have taught us to do. The Psalmist calls this 'being still and knowing that God is exactly who He says He is". So throughout August, instead of using words to commune with God, try to use silence.
Another way to actively wait and use the month of August as a point of Selah, is to spend more time walking (or cycling if that's more your thing). Walking as we know has many health benefits. It is also, I suspect, an incredibly spiritual discipline. Walk through the woods, walk along the shoreline, walk rather than drive to undertake your next errand. Walking slows us down, and when we slow down we see the world differently. As you walk, stop to speak with people, smile at them, look them in the eyes. As you walk, admire the beauty around you, pray for what the Lord directs you to. Notice too the places of injustice, and allow the Lord to move your heart with compassion.
Why not use this month to disconnect from the world slightly. Perhaps watch less television, or withdraw from social media, or go to bed early with the intention of rising early (or vice-versa if more appropriate to you). The intention of this withdrawing is to draw nearer to the things and the people you love. Indeed, such withdrawing, as Jesus taught us, should be the way that we draw ever closer to our heavenly Father.
Finally, take time to listen to music, to appreciate artwork, and to read. As the old prayer of the Church says 'mark and inwardly digest' them. Read scripture, read something that points to Jesus, read something life giving. As you read, pace yourself, take in the words and phrases and the prose slowly and methodically. And as you listen to music, allow it to wash over you, and to speak to the very core of your being.
Whatever your August holds, may you know the Spirit of the risen Jesus pointing you to our Heavenly Father, the giver and sustainer of life.
